Wardrobe trunk



Patented May 22, i923.

llbllplll y Filiali@ FRANK V7'. Iv/IEYER, OF OSHKOSI-I, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE OSHKOSH TRUNK COMPANY, F OSHKSH, WSCONSTN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

TARDROBE TRUNK.

Application led February 14, 1921.

To all to hom t may concern Be it known that I, FRANK `W. MEYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oshkosh, in the county of lWinnebago and State of lVisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wardrobe Trunks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wardrobe trunks adapted for land or sea'travel.

One object ofrny invention is to provide a wardrobe trunk so constructed that it may be placed flat on one side under a bunk or berth of a Steamship when used in sea travel and by opening a hinged lid at the exposed end of the trunk enable convenient access to be had to all the garments or other articles packed in the trunk to be taken out and placed back in the trunk without at any time removing' the trunk from under the berth, and thus cause the trunk to occupy none of the available space in the stateroom.

Another object of my invention is to construct the trunk so that it may be placed upright on one end and opened up like a customary center opening wardrobe trunk when used in travel on land, thus rendering the trunk capableffor land as well as water travel.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a perspective view of a trunk constructed in accordance with my invention and shown placed under a bunk or berth of a steamship with the lid at one end of the trunk open to permit access to be had to the garments and articles packed in the trunk without removing the trunk from under the berth, and illustrating how the trunk is used when traveling on wateror sea;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken through the trunk when lying on one side and with its end lid open,

as shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the locking mechanism for the lid and taken on line a-a of Fig. l;

Fig. @C is a perspective view of the trunk standing upright on one end, closed and locked, and illustrating how the trunk may be used in the manner of a wardrobe trunk when traveling on land;

Serial No. 444,664.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the trunk open, when used like a wardrobe trunk;

Figs. 6 and T are perspective views of two of the boxes or containers, removed from the trunk;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary verti-k cal sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 5; and Y i Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another of the boxes or containers removed from the trunk.

The trunk shown in the drawings is constructed along the general lines of a center opening wardrobe trunk. It has two hinged sections 1 and 2, both of which have open ends at one and the same end of the trunk. To close these ends, when the sections l and 2 are closed, l provide a lid 3 hinged to the section l and extending over and closing the open ends of both sections when the lid is closed, as shown in Fig. l.

The section 2 has side cleats ,4, l extending endwise thereof and these, togethery with the back and two side walls ofthe section, form a channel to receive a rectangular tray 5 provided with extensible trolleys 6 for the garment hangers 7. rlhis tray also has a clothes retainer 8 and the usual fixtures that are provided for releasably and adjustably holding that partin position in the tray. The tray 5 has a' length and width substantially equal to the like dimensions of the section 2 and is slidably mounted in said section, and the latter having an open end permits the tray 5 to be withdrawn endwise therefrom to remove the tray completely fromthe trunk when the lid 8 is opened. This also permits the tray to be slid endwise back into the section 2 through its open end when replacing the tray in the trunk. To facilitate withdrawing the tray 5 from thesection 2, the trayis provided at its open end with a pull tab 9, preferably in the form of a loop to permit convenient grasping thereof and also allowing the tray to be hung up on a hook or nail in a closet or room when itis out of the trunk.

Tn the Fother section l is arranged a plurality of box like containers l0, 1l, and l2. Vhen the trunk is placed upright on its lower end, as shown in Fig. 5, these containers are one above the other with the uppermost container l() supported on cleats 13 secured to the side walls of the section l,

llO

and are prevented from sliding` ou-t through the open side of the section 1 by a crossbar 14: extending` across the section at its` open end and secured to the side walls thereof, as shown in Fig. 5. rllhis cross-bar 111 also acts as a brace to prevent inward or outward bulging` of the open end of the section. The box has a hinged lid 15 held closed by snap or other fasteners on flexible locking' tabs 16, and may be withdrawn out through the open end of the section by grasping the flexible linger loops 17 at the ends of the box, as best shown in Fig. 6.

The intermediate box or container 11 is supported in the sectionjlY by cleats 19, and this container has laterally projectinj),v side flanges 19 to engage against the yfront faces of stop cleats 20 tnrtendingrv between the supporting cleats 13 and 18, shown in Figi; 8, so as to prevent the container when placed. in section 1 from being` pushed. back against the rear wall thereof.

The innermost or bottom boxv or container 12 rests on the bottom or end wall of the section 1 and it also has s flanges 21 to engage against stop cleats 22 aligned with the other stop cleats 20. Through one of these side cleats 22 extend the fixed lockingi inembers or eyes 23 of the trunk locking;` mechanism, these eyes being;- secured to the adjacent side wall of the section 1 and whcnthe trunk sections 1` and 2- are closed together, these eyes extend through apertures or holes 24- in one of the side cleats a of the section 2 and are in position to be engaged by the movable locking meiii'bers 25, which. as shown in Fig. 2, are in thev form of hooks pivoted in the section 1 and connected with an endwise movable bar. 26. This bar is connectedby a crank arm 27 with the locking hasp 28 rotatably mounted on the outside of the section2 adjacent the lid 3, as shown in Figs. 4f and 5,. This locking mechanism is the same as disclosed in my Reissue Patent No. 14,143, granted May 30, 1916. The locking hasp 28, as in my said prior patent, has a hinged section -29 carrying the key operable tumbler lock mechanism, and in the trunk shown herein is adapted to engage the socketed plate 30 secured on the outside of the lid 3 at one side thereof.

The adaptability of the trunk for sea travel will now be explained. ln Fig. 1, l have shown a ships berth 81, of the type usually found in staterooms on seagoing and other Steamers. The berth usually extends the full width of the stateroom and of course is spaced above the Hoor. The trunk of my invention is made so that it may be inserted under the berth and rest on the fioor on one of its flat sides. rEhe,l lid 3 being` hingedy to the sectionl', makes it necessary to place the trunk under the berth with the fiat side of the wardrobe section 2 on the floor. l.When so positioned', the lid 8 is unlocked by unn u S locking the hasp 29 and swinging it out of the socket 80, whereupon the lid is raised into an upright position, as shown in Fig. 1. Before this can be done, however, the brace rod 32 is slipped oit of the iixed stud 84 on the inside of the lid 3, and the rods 32 and 33 are then folded one on the other and pushed back out of the way into the section 1 alongside of the now outermost container or box 10. When the lid is opened and raised as mentioned, access is permitted to the wardrobe carrying' tray 5 and the several garment carrying containers or boxes 10, 11, and 12 without being `required to withdraw the trunk from beneath the berth.v or open its sections 1 and 2, or set it upright on end.

To ,gain access to the garments on the hangers in the tray 5, the pull tab 9 is grasped and the tray slid endwise out of the open end of the section 2 until it is free of the trunk, whereupon it may be lifted and stood against the wail of the room or be hung; up by the tab 9 on a hook and the garments on the hangers may be readily reached for use. To have access to the first box 10, it is pulled endwise out of the section 1 by grasping the linger loops 1'? and this then allows the next container 11 to lbe reached so as to be slid out of the open' end of the section 1. The container 11 has apivoted bail or handle 35 which may now be grasped and the container pulled out of the open end of the section 1 and be removedfrom the trunk for use. To reach the innermost container '12, the user of the trunk couldv reach it through the open end' of thesection 1 and grasp its pivoted bail or handle 36 for sliding; it out of the trunk, but to facilitate reaching this container, it is brought into position forready grasping; of its handle 36 by the pull rod 37. rfhis is slid'ably mounted' against the back wall of the section 1v in guide straps 38, 38, as shown in Fig". 2. The rod 3'? has its inner end' 39 bent to engage back of the box 12, and has'its outer endl l10 bent oiiitwardto provide a vsuitable grasiiiingy handle or iange for pulling or moving the rod endwise outward through the open end The rod extends the full length of this' section and when Vall lofthe containers are in the section the handle end' of the section 1.

eO'is against the adjacent edge of the section and does not interfere with or preventvthe closing` of the lid 3. `When the containers 10 and 11r have been withdrawnfrom' the section 1 in the manner described, the handle end 110 of the rod is then `grasped and the' rod given a quick sharp pull outward', this causingt-he innermost container 12 to be drawn toward the open end of the section 1 into about the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, whereupon the user of the trunk can readily reach vthe handle or bail 36 on the end of the box 12 and withdraw it througl'i the openL end of the section 1 andremove it from thetrunk to gain access to the contents within it. These boXes 11 and 12 rest and slide on the side edges on stop cleats of the section 2.

To pack the trunk while under the berth, it is not necessary to remove the trunk from under the berth. All that is required is that the lid 3 be swung open into position above the trunk, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the tray 5 slid back into the section 2 and the several containers or boxes 10, 1l and 12 slid back into the section 1, whereupon the lid may be swung into closed position and the locking hasp 29 swung into locking engagement with its keeper or socket 30, and the trunk is locked and ready for the porter.

When traieling on land there is no occasion for using the trunk in the manner as when on shipboard, because there is usually plenty ot room for standing the trunk up on its lower end and opening up the sections 1 and 2 by unlocking them and swinging them apart. as shown in Fig. 5. To unlock the trunk, the hasp 28 is unlocked from its keeper 30 and then rotated downwardy into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. This moves the hooks 25 out ot the eyes 23 for unlockingthe sections 1 and 2 on the inside. This also unlocks the lid 3. When the sections 1 and 2 are opened, access may be readily had to the garments on the hangers in the tray 5 without sliding the tray endwise out ot the open upper end ot the setcion 2, as the trolleys 6 may be extended outward and the retainer 8 removed in the same manner as in a customary wardrobe trunk. Access may now readily be had to the now upper container kor box 10 without withdrawing it through the open upper end of the section 2, by merely unfasteninp; the lid 15 and raising it into open position. The middle container 11 may be slid out through the now open side of the section 1 by grasping the rtle.\1ible pull tab 41 and pulling it clear out oi the trunk section. t may be placed anywhere in the room and access had to the contents packed in it by opening` its lid 42 after unlocking the fastening tabs 43 with which the container is provided. The lid may be held or supported in open position by a rod 44piyoted on one of the partitions 45, as shown in Fig. 7. This rod is swung down into position alongside of its adjacent partition when the lid is to be closed and locked. There are several of these par-v tit-ions 45, as shown in Fig. l7, which divide the container into several compartments for receiving shoes or such other articles as may be packed therein, and the partitions are removably mounted in the container by having their edges in guideways termed by strips secured to the ycontainezl wells, as illustrated in Fig. 7.

To permit the container or box 11 to be supported in the manner ot a drawer projecting outward from the section 1, l provide a slideway 46 to receive the slide lianges 19 of the container when the latter is hori- Zontally arranged and slid into the section 1 in this slideway. rThis supports the container in horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 8, and access may be had to it at that time by openingthe lid 42, as is apparent. These slideways 46 are formed by the cleats 18 and an upper set of cleats 47. The now lowermost container 12 may be pulled out of the section 1 by means ot a pull tab on its bottom wall, as shown in Fig. 5.`

When the trunk is used as a land trunk. that is, used in travel on land, it is .used like an ordinary wardrobe trunk, and oi course the tray 5 may be pulled endwise out of the section 2 and be hung up in a closet or stood against the wall oi' a room, it' that is desirable, although ready access may be had to the garments in the tray without remov ing` it from the trunk. The lid 3 when raised is held in an upright position. shown in Fig. 5. and prevented from swing'- ing back by the bra ce rods 32, 33, the 'former 32 being at such time engaged with the stud 34. shown in Fig. 2.

To provide additional compartment facilities for the trunk, there isa container 49 pivoted in the lid 3 and, when not in use, held back in the lid by a fastening tab 50. This hinged compartment 49 has a suitablv hinged lid, which is held in closed position by fasteningtabs as shown in Fig, 1.

To securely lock the lid 3 closed, ll provide a locking mechanism operat-ingin conjunction with the main trunk locking; device as described. This loc-king mechanism comprises an endwise movable bar 51 located in the lid 3 and extending across the saine and slidably mounted in cleats 52; One end of the bar extends into the socketed meinber 30 for the hasp 23 and the other end is adapted to project into a recess 53 in the lid 3, as shown in Fig. 5. Secured to one of the side walls oi' thesection 2 and projecting `beyond the open end ther-eet' is a lug- 54 having at its outer end an eye 55, as shown 1n 1g. 1, to receive the. adjacent end of the locking rod 51. About the latter is a coiled spring 56 bearing at one end against one of the cleats and at the other end against a pin on the bar and in a direction to constantly urge the bar toward the locking hasp 2Q. When the locking` hasp 29 is unlocked, the spring 56 moves the rod 51 outward aga inst the hasp, thereby assisting in moving` it into open position and at the saine 'time withdrawing` its opposite end from the eye in the lug 54, thereby unlocking the lid 3 atthat end ot the trunk. When the locking hasp 29 is swung into its keeper socket 30, it pushes against the bar 51 and mores its opposite end into the eye in the lug 54, thereby effectingr' the locking of the hd at opposite sides ott-he trunk section 2, at one point. by means oij the locking hasp 29 and at the other point by means of 'the bar 5l and lug This locks the lid 3 at opposite sides ot the trunk and' therefore locks it securely closed and prevents that corner opposite the locking; hasp trom springing,` outward from the trunk, which might l'iappen ity there Were no locking bar 5i provided for that purpose.

WVhile l have shown and ldescribed in detail herein a trunk constructed in accordance with rnv invention, it is of course to be unf derstood that. the various details ot construcinner sides ot the sections when the latter are swung apart and the trunk standing upright on its lower end, said means being slidably` mounted in their respective sections to be slid out ot and into the same throughtheir open ends when the sections are' closed and the trunk lying); iiatnise on one or" the same,

moans tor closing the open ends ci: said sec-. tions in either position oit the trunk., and locking means tor said sections and theclosv ingmeans ,tor the open ends thereof.

2. A wardrobe trunk, comprising two hinged together sections Openat` their upper ends, a lid for closing; the open ends of said.

sections and hinged to one ot trav' the same', a in one oi'` said sections and containing vfixtures for garment hangers, a plurality ot boi; like containers in the other section., the

garment hangers .in the 'tray and the containers in the other section beingv accessible tl'irough the open inner sides oft said sections whenl the lid is raised and the sections are swung,- apart with the trunk standing),` upright on its lov-er end, said-tray and containers beine; sildably mounted in their respective sections to be slid out ot and into the same through their open ends when the sections are closed and the truniclying {iatwise on one ot' the same with the laid raised, means tor locking, said lid closed in either position of the trunk, and locking means tor said sections. v

A Wardrobe trunk, comprising two hinged together sections open at their upper ends, a lid for closing; the open ends ot said sections and hinged to one ot the same, a tray in one ot' said sections and containing fixtures for garment hangers, a. plurality of ybox like containers in the other section, the

garment hangers 1n the'tray and the containers in the other section being?, accessible when the lid is raised andthe sections swung apart when the trunk is stood uprig'htonV one end, said tray and' containers being slid; ably mounted in their respective sectionsto be slid out ot and into the same through their open @nds when the'trunk is closed and lying Hatwise on one section with the lid raised,- and? locking means 'for said sections'.V

hingedtogether sections open at their upper ends, a lid i''or closinfr the open' ends olg said sections and hinged to one ot the same, a tray in one ot' said fixtures Ji-'or garment hangers, al pluralityot bof; like containers .in the other section and arranged one behind the other, the garment hangers in the tray and the containers in the other sectionbeing accessible when the lid is raised and the sections swungapart when the trunl is stood upright on oneend, said tray and containers beingl slidably mounted in their respective sections to he slid out ot and into the same 'through their open ends when the trunk is closed and lying iiatjvvise on one section With-the vlidv raised, means accessible'trom the open end ot the `trunk to draw the innermost container toward the open end' ot its section to be reached, and

locking means for said' sections and lid.

5. A Wardrobe trunk, comprising tivo hinged together sections, both open at one end,'a lid tor closing said sections and hinged to one ot the same, a tray slidably mounted in one of said sections Vand provided `With fixtures for garmentl hangers, said tray being slidable endwise into and out ot its section through the open end box like containers slidablly mounted in the other section and 'adapted to be Withdrawn from and inserted back` into said section through the open end thereof when the trunk is closed' and lying down iiatwise on one section andthe lid raised, a pull rod slidably mounted in the section containing said containers and having its innerend engagging the'inn'ermost container behind the same and its outer end accessible from the open end or the section to permit said innermost container to be drawn toward the open end of said section'atter the other containers have been Withdrawn from said section, and locking means for locking the sections and lid closed'.

6. A Wardrobe trunk, comprising two hinged together sections, both openat one end, a lid for' closing said sections and hinged to one ot the same, a tray slidably'inounted in one' ot said sections andv provided With fixtures 'for garment hangers, said tray besections and containing loo y' thereof when thelid is raised, a plurality of i said lid is raised, a plurality of box like containers slidably mounted in the other section and being one above the other when the trunk is set upright on one end with the lowermost container resting on 'the bottom wall of its section and the other containers supported by cleats secured to the side wallsl of said section so 'that the containers may be removed independently from said section through the open side thereof when the trunk is upright and the sections swung apart, additional cleats secured to the side walls of the container section above the cleats `for the intermediate container to provide slideways, said intermediate container having side flanges to enter said slideways and support the container in a substantially horizontal position projecting outward through the open inner side of the section when the trunk is upright, and locking means for locking the sections and lid closed.

7. A wardrobe trunk, comprising two hinged together sections, one of said sections being open at i'ts upper end, a hinged lid for closing said open end, garment rei taining means in each of said sections and accessible through the open inner sides of the sections when the latter are swung apart and the trunk standing upright on one end, the garment retaining means in the open ended section being slidably mounted in said section to be withdrawn from and inserted back into the same through the open end thereof when the sections are closed and the trunk lying latwiset on one of said sections with said lid open, and locking means for said lid and sections.

8. A wardrobe trunk, comprising two hinged together sections, one of said sections being open at its upper end, a hinged lid for closing said open end, garment retaining means slidably mounted in the open ended section and adapted to be completely withdrawn from and inserted back into said section through the open end thereof when the sections are closed together and the lid open, and locking means for said lid and sections.

9. A trunk, comprising two hinged together sections, one of said sections being open at its upper end, a hinged lid for closing said open end, a plurality of garment retaining boXes slidably mounted in said open ended section and arranged one behind the other, said boxes being withdrawn from and inserted back into said section through the open end thereof when the lid is open, locking means for said lid and sections, and means carried by the open'ended section and accessible when the lid is open to draw the innermost container toward the open end of said section to be reached for withdrawal.

10. A trunk, comprising two hinged together sections, a plurality of garment re taining boxes slidable into and ont of one of said sections through an' opening at one end thereof, a pull rod slidably mounted in said section, said rod having its inner end engaging the innermost box and its outer end accessible from the open end of said section for bringing the innermost box within reach from the open end o said section after the other boxes have been removed, a lid for the open end of said section, and locking means for said lid.

l1. A trunk, comprising two hinged together sections, garment retaining means in each of said sections, said means being slidably mounted in theiry respective sections and adapted to be withdrawn from and inserted back into the trunk through openings provided in said sections when the sections are closed together, one of said sections having its opening at one end, a lid for closing said opening, and locking means for said lid and sections.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I aiiix my signature, this 11th day of February, A. D. 1921.

FRANK W. MEYER. 

